Alicyclic Chemistry

This volume provides an overview of the chemistry of cyclic (non-aromatic) organic compounds containing rings of carbon atoms. Such structures include many compounds which play a key role in the natural world (e.g. perfumes and pheromones) and in pharmacology (e.g. the steroids).

Alicyclic chemistry is the study of non- aromatic organic compounds made up of one or more carbocyclic rings. Such compounds which range from simple ring systems to complex bridged and polycyclic structures provide a framework for the understanding of many concepts which underlie organic chemistry. It is the intention of this book to provide an overview of the behaviour of alicyclic compounds in the depth required for an undergraduate chemistry course. The topics covered include a discussion of the stability and conformational behaviour of carbocyclic ring systems, and the factors which control the choice of synthetic methods to, and reactivity of such compounds. Many aspects of alicyclic chemistry provide an important framework for a proper understanding of the behaviour of organic molecules in general and are key components of any first degree-level chemistry course. The present text aims to provide an up-to-date discussion of this important area of organic chemistry (which also has implications in biological and medicinal chemistry) with particular emphasis on the understanding of molecular shape (using modern computer graphics) and its role in controlling molecular behaviour.